The University of Mary Washington men's basketball team dropped an 85-84 decision to Frostburg State on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles fall to 10-11 overall and 6-8 in Capital Athletic Conference play. Sophomore forward Johnny Cronin led the Eagles by recording his second double-double of the season, posting a career-high 23 points and hauling in 12 boards.
In the early going, the Eagles jumped to a 7-6 lead in the first five minutes. Frostburg answered and hit a lay up at the 14:38 mark to take an 8-7 advantage. The Eagles tied the score at 10-10 on an Austin Hall bucket, and again at 19-19 on an A.J. Robinson lay up.
The Eagles continued to struggle to break through and grab a lead, as they tied the score again at 23-23 on a Cronin and-one with 7:04 left in the half. Frostburg answered and ended the half on a 22-11 run to take an 11 point lead heading into the break.
Frostburg added to the lead in the beginning of the second, up 57-38, with 14:24 left in the game. The Eagles rallied and went on a 31-12 run to tie the score at 69-69 with 4:11 remaining. Seven different Eagles fueled the run, with John Lutkenhaus scoring seven straight to get the Eagles going. Brent Mahoney and Shaw each added six, Hall had five, Robinson had three, and Cronin and Jacob Williams each had two.
Frostburg scored to take a 71-69 lead, but Williams hit a lay up to tie the game with 3:31 left. Frostburg scored again to take a two point lead, but Hall responded with a jumper to even the score with 2:27 left. The two teams continued to exchange baskets, as Frostburg hit a jumper to go up 75-73 with 1:51 on the clock but Cronin again tied the game for the Eagles with just over a minute remaining.
Frostburg took the lead with 42 second left, but Shaw hit a clutch jumper with 16 seconds left to tie the game at 77-77. The Eagles came up with a big stop at the end of regulation as Frostburg failed to convert on a last second three.
In overtime, the Eagles grabbed an early 80-78 lead as Cronin knocked down a free throw and Shaw hit a lay up. Frostburg hit a pair of free throws to tie the game, but Hall responded with a three-pointer on the next possession to put the Eagles up 83-80 with 2:23 left.
Frostburg tied the game at 83-83 with 1:30 on the clock. The Eagles knocked down 1-2 free throws with 1:10 left, and Frostburg capitalized by hitting a lay up to take an 85-84 lead with 12 seconds left. The Eagles had a chance in the final seconds but were unable to convert.
Cronin shot 10-18 from the field. Lutkenhaus was 5-11 en route to 13 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks. Shaw scored 15 points and had eight boards, while Hall added 13 off the bench.
Mary Washington shot 37.9% from the field (33-87), making 4-18 three-pointers and 14-24 free throws. Frostburg State shot 46.8% from the field (36-77), making 5-19 three-pointers and 8-12 free throws.
The Eagles are back in action on Wednesday as they host St. Mary's at 8:00 pm in the Ron Rosner Arena.